Mouse/Keyboard Changes

[arn]

One reseller reports that current black Apple Pro mice and keyboards are now discontinued.

This leaves white mice/keyboards currently available for sale, which currently ship with iMacs.

With new PowerMacs around the corner, this may confirm a design shift of the new PowerMacs towards lighter/whiter colors. Alternatively, it may suggest previous reports (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2002/03/20020318191018.shtml) of a revamped mouse may, in fact, be true.

[gaomay]

Yep, looks like new PMs soon - maybe tomorrow?

Does X.2 support 2 button mice?

[GetSome681]

Originally posted by gaomay
Yep, looks like new PMs soon - maybe tomorrow?

Does X.2 support 2 button mice?

I'm assuming since X.1 does.

[Horne]

Hopefully tomorrow, cos I am gagging for one!

PS, Hi Gaomay, not often you see Scots on this forum.

[Ensign Paris]

Its a shame, I loved the design of the Pro Mouse, it was an excellent piece of kit, but I am not as keen on the white pro mouse.

Well, as long as it is replaced with something better ;)

Ensign

[thoems]

.....also a scroll wheel :-)
Thoems

[barkmonster]

I think white goes with the style of the LCDs and the Aqua theme more than Graphite, black or Silver does anyway. I hope that case pic that's floating around turns out to be the new case too, A white tower, mouse and keyboard would look really cool.

Plus, if we're getting a two button mouse aswell then it makes things even better, I would prefer it if it was still only 1 button with a scrollwheel that acts as a second button if you click on it, it would just be easier.

looking forward to tommorow if new macs are coming anyway.

[iGav]

Noooooooooooooooo..... :eek: :eek: :eek:

The new powerMacs are likely to be 'Snow' coloured.............

i really like the black and graphite pro mouse and keyboard...... a 'Snow' coloured one what just wouldn't look cool with a TiBook....... :eek:

I do however have complete faith in Ives and Co to make 'Snow' work on the PowerMacs........ I hope.... :p

[peterjhill]

didja see the new kensington "mac Only" mouse? It has a Titanium look and has a scroll sensor, ie, non mechanical scroll do-dad.

It looks fairly cool, I am more interested in new mice and keyboards than new pmacs, as I have a Ti800 that is perfectly adequate for my needs. I hope they release a killer pmac though, as I know that many of you are yearnin for one.

(ps I just woke up, so please excuse my crazy word choices ) :D

[StuPid QPid]

Sure. While I agree that the white iMac keyboards and mouse look cool, they lget dirty after about an hours use. I've seen some white keyboards in my local Mac dealer and they looked terrible from all the dirt, dried sweat and whatever else on the keys. Hey maybe they'll have brushed aluminium keys. Now that would be cool, but probably way too expensive...
Also I'm not sure about a multibutton mouse, but a scroll wheel would be welcome. By me at any rate :)

[gaomay]

Yeah, you're the only other I'm aware of. I'm in Dundee and a recent Mac convert.
maybe we can start a new thread on McMacs?

[gandalf55]

while it would be nice to get what we want from apple, we always have the option of getting the keyboard and mouse/mice of our choice. if you're gonna be gaming, choose one mouse, 3D modelling - mb a track ball, video editing - a scrubber. a little more money, but you get what you want.

i agree white isnt the way to go for the pro line. those iBooks look fairly childish - and perhaps that how they should look. White chicklet keys frighten me. The iMac is all white & chrome, the eMac is white. iPod is white, but that's fine there.

i don't know what market research has come back with, but something darker and more elegant for the Pro line would be appropriate. Macs stand out on their own because of their design, they shouldn't stand out because they are white. I mean, B&W G3s and the G4s def. look like nothing else. They have pleasing colors associated with them. They look professional. If this stuff were frosted white, with greys, etc. perhaps.

We are merely speculating at this point though. Time will tell.

[ImAlwaysRight]

I've had both the black pro keyboard and the white pro keyboard to use at work. I much prefer the white keyboard. It is much easier to look at (granted, you don't look at it most of the time, but when you do, in my opinion, white is easier on the eyes).

As for dirt, sure, white will show dirt easier that black, but I've found the average Mac user has better hygiene habits than your typical slobby PC user who goes to a Mac display just to change the name of the hard disk and delete files from the computer. (In other words, I've had no problems with dirt on my white keyboard which I've used for 5 months.)

[RealityCheque]

Of all the things I hope Apple does with their next line of pro towers, an ergonomic multi-button plus scroll wheel mouse is not at the top of the list. But it's still on the list! I, for one, certainly hope they finally catch up with the rest of the world and stop making us use TWO input devices (keyboard + mouse) and TWO hands to perform simple but necessary operations like contextual menu selection and copy drags! Of course, I don't want them to sacrifice the comfort of their current mouse, so hopefully they can combine that with some great new functionality!!

[crassusad44]

Bluetooth wireless USB mice and keyboard anyone??? :) :) (hoping, hoping...)

BTW, if Apple makes a two-button mouse, I hope they will be the first company to not make an ugly one...... But, hey, it's Apple :D

[cyberfunk]

The ThoughtMouse (tm) ! Just start a thinking, and the mouse starts a moving !

might be problems tho, like, if your listening to your iTunes, and getting groovy from the visualizer, then the mouse starts a clicking here and there.. ruining all your fun.

[theaz]

hmm. The advantage of the white keyboard over the black is that it is easier to use in not so bright situations. Of course, what i think would be really cool would be a keyboard which glowed in the dark :) It would go with my soundsticks and the red kensington flylight i have installed behind my cube.

cyberfunk. Your onto something there that i have thought about before: why not set up the pro-mouse so that the laser beats from hi-power to low-power mode with the beat of iTunes music?

[gaomay]

don't think we'll see a bluetooth mouse/keyboard combo. I think the battery issues are too large a hurdle to overcome and besides who really needs one?

Juat my tuppence worth!

[macsurfer]

I hate two button mice and I hate scroll wheels. I ESPECIALLY HATE scroll wheels. Long live the ONE button NO SCROLL WHEEL optical mouse!

[d00d]

I'm sorry to say it, but Apple is behind on mice design. The Pro mouse is nice, but I've found ever since my girlfriend got me an Intellimouse Explorer (which is a fabulous mouse) that a scroll wheel is essential, as is the second button. The forward/back buttons are a nice bonus, but not necessary like the scroll wheel.

[EddieB]

I'm not to sure about this because I just checked on the Apple Store(store.apple.com), and they only have a 1 to 2 day shipping for the Keyboard(black eyes), and the Mouse(black), and this seems normal.

[macsurfer]

From iRumors:

New Pro Mice and Keyboards
Posted on August 12 2002
_
As we reported on August 10, new keyboards and mice will be released tommorow along with new Powermacs.
_
The mice and keyboards will quite possibly be Bluetooth compatible, although this feature will probably be unveiled in later hardware revisions. Both of the accessories will sport a colour change in line with the new PowerMacs, meaning they will be a colour a silvery white colour. *****Apart from the colour, the mice and keyboards will have a similar design to the current versions.*****
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scroll wheels are for losers (and so are trackballs).

[gotohamish]

Originally posted by cyberfunk
The ThoughtMouse (tm) ! Just start a thinking, and the mouse starts a moving !

might be problems tho, like, if your listening to your iTunes, and getting groovy from the visualizer, then the mouse starts a clicking here and there.. ruining all your fun.

NOW you're talking! I tried swallowing the USB Bluetooth adapter, and now I get a gut feeling about who's calling me on my Ericcson T39m. Address Book in 10.2 even pops up as well. God bless Apple.

gth

[d00d]

Originally posted by digitalvideo
Scroll wheels are for losers (and so are trackballs). It's hard to argue with logic (or lack thereof) of that caliber.

[macsurfer]

Hey what can I say? Scroll wheels SUCK *****. So do trackballs, I HATE them. Why is MY logic any worse than YOURS?????

[Rajj]

Ewwwwwh:mad: White keyboards only?
More dirt will show on white keyboards!!!

[cyberfunk]

Originally posted by digitalvideo
Hey what can I say? Scroll wheels SUCK *****. So do trackballs, I HATE them. Why is MY logic any worse than YOURS?????


Solve this problem with the PowerMate from GriffinTech (www.griffintechonolgy.com) It changes your volume, it mutes ! It Scrolls ! It slices it Dices ! It has a cool Blue led that changes brightness with your volume, it ROCKS !

Seriously, it's great for scrolling thru video like a shuttle wheel, and it's really programmable, I got it on a whim, and I'm SOOOO glad I did.. I use it instead of a scroll wheel.

[xelterran]

dirt would make em look 'grey' of 'graphite'....

[cyberfunk]

Well, I currently use a single button ADB mouse w/ my beiege, but I've got a logitech mouse I use with my duron that I plug into my beige sometimes, and I've got to say, it works really well, better tracking than the Apple optical mechanism.


If you want to get super-precise, there are mice that have 2 optical sensors for more accuracy, I've seen them pitched to FPS gamers, and I've used one before, and I gotta admit, they're pretty cool, tho they do cost ya.

[Future Man]

Originally posted by ImAlwaysRight
I've found the average Mac user has better hygiene habits than your typical slobby PC user who goes to a Mac display just to change the name of the hard disk and delete files from the computer.

ROFLMFAO

That is comedy. So ImAlwaysRight, know any PC users?lol

I hope Apple gets a 2 button mouse together wth a scrollwheel. When I first got my pro mouse I thought it was the end all be all of mice, but i got sick of hitting the control button all the time. I now use a logitech optical scroll mouse and have retired the pro mouse to my mac museum. The logitech rules! and X.1.5 is scroll native! Come on apple, scroll the dice and I'll take that bet!

[Ibjr]

Originally posted by digitalvideo
From iRumors:

The mice and keyboards will quite possibly be Bluetooth compatible,....

MS has plans to do the same, they have not done so yet because HID standards have not been worked out for the mouse and keyboard with bluetooth.

Originally posted by ImAlwaysRight


As for dirt, sure, white will show dirt easier that black, but I've found the average Mac user has better hygiene habits than your typical slobby PC user.

This coming from a user of a Mac community who’s obsession with bodily fluids forces them type “Pee Cees”? Your unsupported statement, “Mac users are not slobs” just begs for me to follow it with “Mac users are anal retentive”.

ibjr

[macsurfer]

Yes the Griffin PowerMate is AWESOME!!!!! I have one and I use it as a Jog/Shuttle dial in Final Cut Pro (and to start/stop playback) and iMovie (and to split clips in iMovie). I love the PowerMate!!!!

And YES it does the job MUCH MUCH MUCH better than a crappy-ass scroll wheel (if you MUST have that functionality!:rolleyes: )

[cyberfunk]

Originally posted by digitalvideo
Why is MY logic any worse than YOURS?????

Your logic isnt worse, it's simply non-existant. Logic requires some sort of argument, which saying " xxxxx sucks" lacks.

[macsurfer]

Oh but "Scroll Wheels Rule" is so logical? Hell the logic is "Scroll wheels Suck ***** is quite apparent. It's a direct observation of the truth!"

[cyberfunk]

Originally posted by cyberfunk
The ThoughtMouse (tm) ! Just start a thinking, and the mouse starts a moving !

might be problems tho, like, if your listening to your iTunes, and getting groovy from the visualizer, then the mouse starts a clicking here and there.. ruining all your fun.


Look , look ! I quoted myself ! I have expanded ideas on the thoughtmouse tho!

What happens when one of those back seat computer drivers comes over and starts telling how to do something, ie: " no no, click THERE, no, let me do it" Now they can just take over and be obnoxious by thinking !



And BTW, I believe the powermate can be programmed to pulse w/ iTunes, but it requires some low level hacking, which I dont know how to do.

[cyberfunk]

Originally posted by digitalvideo
Oh but "Scroll Wheels Rule" is so logical? Hell the logic is "Scroll wheels Suck ***** is quite apparent. It's a direct observation of the truth!"

Observation does not equal logic, besides, observation is subject to the whims of the observer's opinions, thus, unless conducted in a completely neutral mind (which is impossible) observations will always have a tilt on them.

ie:

Person 1: Hey, that car is red !

Person 2: Well, seems a bit orangish to me.

Even if they both agree it is red, do they see the "same" red ? It is most likely that they do not.

[Ibjr]

Originally posted by digitalvideo
Oh but "Scroll Wheels Rule" is so logical?

Its a third mouse button and allow you to skim a page. With Mutlizilla it opens up a new tab (and it probally does the same in mozilla)

[Ibjr]

Originally posted by cyberfunk


Observation does not equal logic, besides, observation is subject to the whims of the observer's opinions, thus, unless conducted in a completely neutral mind (which is impossible) observations will always have a tilt on them.

ie:

Person 1: Hey, that car is red !

Person 2: Well, seems a bit orangish to me.

Even if they both agree it is red, do they see the "same" red ? It is most likely that they do not.

God, reminds me of truth tables.

[cyberfunk]

What are truth tables?

and btw, digitalvideo, I've nothing against you, I dont call "scroll wheels rock" logic either.

[macsurfer]

Guess the same thing would apply to "Scroll Wheels Rule" then, wouldn't it???? WOULDN'T IT?????????????

[cyberfunk]

Originally posted by digitalvideo
Guess the same thing would apply to "Scroll Wheels Rule" then, wouldn't it???? WOULDN'T IT?????????????

Yes, yes it would, now calm down, your getting all out of hand. If you dont watch out we'll have an "awww geees" situation on our hands. :)

[macsurfer]

I know "Scroll Wheels Suck *****" isn't logic, It's my opinion. I just resent "dOOd" or whatever his name is saying I'm "illogical" when he makes comments like "Scroll Wheels Rule". "dOOd" is a hypocrite.

[Ibjr]

Originally posted by cyberfunk
What are truth tables?


Page on Truth Tables (http://www.kcmetro.cc.mo.us/longview/ctac/ttable.htm)

[cyberfunk]

Originally posted by Ibjr


Page on Truth Tables (http://www.kcmetro.cc.mo.us/longview/ctac/ttable.htm)

YUK

[G4scott]

Originally posted by digitalvideo
Hey what can I say? Scroll wheels SUCK *****. So do trackballs, I HATE them. Why is MY logic any worse than YOURS?????

Tell me which is more efficient? clicking on a tiny arrow to scroll down this web page, moving your hand to the arrow keys on the keyboard, or moving a finger on your mouse? Scroll wheels are very useful with browsing web pages, very long documents, and folders with lots of items. I'm not sure what experience you've had in the past with scroll wheels, but I find them very useful...

[cyberfunk]

Now THERE is a logical argument (G4Scott)

[G4scott]

Originally posted by xrhajj
Ewwwwwh:mad: White keyboards only?
More dirt will show on white keyboards!!!

True, but look at all the beige and grey keyboards from the past... You just need to clean off the keys every once and a while.

I cleaned my iBook's keyboard a couple of weeks ago, and I got tons of crap out of it. Keyboards are hair magnets...

Just as long as the keyboard's not totally translucent or transparent, I don't think that dirt will be more of a problem than it is with beige keyboards.

[Ibjr]

Originally posted by G4scott


Tell me which is more efficient? clicking on a tiny arrow to scroll down this web page, moving your hand to the arrow keys on the keyboard, or moving a finger on your mouse? Scroll wheels are very useful with browsing web pages, very long documents, and folders with lots of items. I'm not sure what experience you've had in the past with scroll wheels, but I find them very useful...

I'm sorry Scott, but asking a mac user about efficiency is like asking a formalist about impressionist paintings. Is the dock efficient in OSX 10.1?* Theoretically the dock is efficient, But realistically you have the spinning beach ball of death.

*I know 10.2 fixes this, but its not out to the public right now

[macsurfer]

To YOU. I still hate scroll wheels and will ALWAYS hate scroll wheels. Besides, I can use the down arrow key if I don't want to use the mouse (or my PowerMate). Not only that but I can scroll up and down this whole page by just moving my mouse a half inch to an inch up or down. HARDLY inconvenient.

Yes, I think the dock is efficient and I LOVE THE DOCK. I don't get the spinning beach ball when I use it. I hate all the whiners and complainers who b*tch and moan about "oh whaaaaaa, mommy look what the dock did to me, whaaaaaa".

[Ibjr]

Originally posted by digitalvideo
To YOU. I still hate scroll wheels and will ALWAYS hate scroll wheels. Besides, I can use the down arrow key if I don't want to use the mouse.

Yes, I think the dock is efficient and I LOVE THE DOCK. I hate all the whiners and complainers who b*tch and moan about "oh whaaaaaa, mommy look what the dock did to me, whaaaaaa".

Wow, you really are not that bright. In your mind, I criticize the dock so I must want OS 9? I use XP everday, I use Mac OSX a few times a month. We haven’t owned a new Apple since they screwed they Performa 550 owners, sad considering this houses first Apple had been the apple II.

The dock is great, the eye candy is a waste and makes the entire concept nearly unusable.

[firewire2001]

Originally posted by cyberfunk
The ThoughtMouse (tm) ! Just start a thinking, and the mouse starts a moving !

might be problems tho, like, if your listening to your iTunes, and getting groovy from the visualizer, then the mouse starts a clicking here and there.. ruining all your fun.

as funny as it sounds researchers have been able to do something similar with monkeys...

basically a monkey "thinks" about moving a cursor type thing on a screen and has to put it on tope of a target.. the scientists say that it is more like moving an extra joint than it is "thinking".. lie you wouldnt think "move mouse up" - you would actually think of thye movement (like i think of the movement of my hand)...

i woulf send you a link for the article, but it was a while ago.. there are a lot of researchers working on this hot topic, but the reason why this particular article stood otu was because it required very little training on the user's part, as opposed to other systems that require a lot more training.

[macsurfer]

Yes, I saw that on the news. What you don't mention is that there was an electrode attached to the monkeys head that was connected to a wire that was connected to the computer.

[Ibjr]

Originally posted by cyberfunk
The ThoughtMouse (tm) ! Just start a thinking, and the mouse starts a moving !

might be problems tho, like, if your listening to your iTunes, and getting groovy from the visualizer, then the mouse starts a clicking here and there.. ruining all your fun.

I can't imagine the problems this would create for teenagers looking at pornography.

[macsurfer]

Did I mention OS 9? I NEVER said that. YOU did. I love the dock and the way it looks and behaves.

[wilhelmd]

Can someone give more examples of what you can do with a PowerMate before I go out and buy one?

Originally posted by G4scott
Tell me which is more efficient? clicking on a tiny arrow to scroll down this web page, moving your hand to the arrow keys on the keyboard, or moving a finger on your mouse? Scroll wheels are very useful with browsing web pages, very long documents, and folders with lots of items. I'm not sure what experience you've had in the past with scroll wheels, but I find them very useful...
Ok, so some people like scroll wheels, some love scroll wheels, and some hate them. It's like the MacOS9-vs-MacOSX discussion. Well, maybe not.

Ok, here's an idea: Apple came up with the "no-moving-parts" iPod scroll wheel. I have no idea at all how these work, but if they feel good (and judging by Steve, they do) why not implement them in the mice? Or the same thing as the trackpad on the iBooks and the PowerBooks - only just smaller, so that users can scroll both vertical and horizonatl - and program it to do lots of cool things!

Or what about a fingerprint scanner? Or cooling device, so that your hand wouldn't get sweaty? Or - or - or...

Well, time will show...

[G4scott]

Originally posted by digitalvideo
To YOU. I still hate scroll wheels and will ALWAYS hate scroll wheels. Besides, I can use the down arrow key if I don't want to use the mouse (or my PowerMate). Not only that but I can scroll up and down this whole page by just moving my mouse a half inch to an inch up or down. HARDLY inconvenient.

Yes, I think the dock is efficient and I LOVE THE DOCK. I don't get the spinning beach ball when I use it. I hate all the whiners and complainers who b*tch and moan about "oh whaaaaaa, mommy look what the dock did to me, whaaaaaa".

OK, so you prefer not to use scroll wheels, and that's fine. Just cool down a bit... Just because you don't like scroll wheels and some people do doesn't mean that everyone who uses scroll wheels has flawed logic. Just because some @$$hole made a snide remark doesn't mean that everyone else is wrong...

As for the dock, I feel the same way. It's really useful for me, and much more efficient and just plain better than the application switcher from OS 9 and the taskbar from windoze... It could be a bit better in some ways, but it's still fine...

Anyways, I just hope this thread doesn't turn into "scroll wheels suck" and "scroll wheels rule" and "the dock sucks" and "the dock rules" and all that other crap... Remember, this is about keyboards and mice ;)

[cyberfunk]

Originally posted by Ibjr


I can't imagine the problems this would create for teenagers looking at pornography.


I was going to say that.. but then I thought better of it.. glad someone else has a slightly dirty mind.

[Ibjr]

Originally posted by digitalvideo
Did I mention OS 9? I NEVER said that. YOU did. I love the dock and the way it looks and behaves.

If I were to call someone a lady of the night, i would be calling her a prostitute. OS9 was implied, its most ardent supporters despise OSX.

[cyberfunk]

Originally posted by wilhelmd
Can someone give more examples of what you can do with a PowerMate before I go out and buy one?


It's a great tool ! You can program it to any key combination, and it can be application specific, or system wide settings, or you can have it be specific to some applications, and in others, do the system wide thing (system wide defualts to changing the volume, and muting/unmuting when you "click" (push down on it) with it).

GriffinTech's site has many cool usage suggestions


http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/powermate/features.html

[macsurfer]

Originally posted by Ibjr


If I were to call someone a lady of the night, i would be calling her a prostitute. OS9 was implied, its most ardent supporters despise OSX.

OS 9 was implied where and how? You are REALLY paranoid!!!!!!!!

[G4scott]

Originally posted by wilhelmd
Ok, here's an idea: Apple came up with the "no-moving-parts" iPod scroll wheel. I have no idea at all how these work, but if they feel good (and judging by Steve, they do) why not implement them in the mice? Or the same thing as the trackpad on the iBooks and the PowerBooks - only just smaller, so that users can scroll both vertical and horizonatl - and program it to do lots of cool things!

Kensington's Mac Only mouse already has a scroll wheel like that. It's a solid state touch sensitive area, just like trackpads on notebooks, except smaller. It senses where your finger is, and where it moves to do what it does accordingly... One feature that my brother's pee-cee laptop has, that seems nice, is the ability to scroll up and down by moving your finger up or down along the very right of the track pad, and to scroll left and right by moving your finger along the bottom... I haven't used it much, so I don't know how well it works, but it might be a nice feature to have... (oh, and this isn't a dell innovation... it's a logitech, or some mouse company's idea, so it's ok for Apple to use it :p )

[Ibjr]

Originally posted by digitalvideo


OS 9 was implied where and how? You are REALLY paranoid!!!!!!!!

Nothing I do is out of paranoia, I hope you are never told to write a commentary on Lolita or Pale Fire.

You'd miss the best parts.

edit: Changed books

[macsurfer]

If you can show me where I implied OS 9, in my post, I'll eat my words. But there is no implication, so you are quite paranoid.

"Lady of the Night" is a euphemism for "Prostitute". What euphemism did I use for "OS 9"?

[cyberfunk]

Originally posted by G4scott
One feature that my brother's pee-cee laptop has, that seems nice, is the ability to scroll up and down by moving your finger up or down along the very right of the track pad, and to scroll left and right by moving your finger along the bottom... I haven't used it much, so I don't know how well it works, but it might be a nice feature to have... (oh, and this isn't a dell innovation... it's a logitech, or some mouse company's idea, so it's ok for Apple to use it :p )

I've used that feature on some compaqs, I think it's mostly software based, but I've found it sort of annoying and unreliable.

[topicolo]

Originally posted by digitalvideo
Guess the same thing would apply to "Scroll Wheels Rule" then, wouldn't it???? WOULDN'T IT?????????????

Just innocently curious: how old are you digitalvideo?

[macsurfer]

What difference does that make? Possibly older than you. Possibly not.

[Snowy_River]

Just as a comment on mice and Mac OS X...

I would not be at all surprised to see Apple come out with a three button mouse. With Mac OS X, they have an operating system with Unix at its core. Many Unix operations and applications rely on three button mice. As Apple pushes to get more apps ported to Mac OS X, it only makes sense for them to add a three button mouse to their Pro line (where such high power applications would be most likely to turn up).

On scroll wheels: Personally, I like scroll wheels. It's very common these days for mice to have the scroll wheel double as the third button. However, I suspect that Apple will maintain a one button mouse in their consumer line, with the idea of simpler interface for the non-high-power user.

Anyway, just my thoughts spilling out through my keyboard...

[srobert]

The black apple pro keyboard and mouse are now selling for 6 $ CAN less than the white ones on Apple Store Canada. Could this be a confirmation. hmmm.... But then again, the black keyboard is only cheaper on Canada's Store. And what's more, the black keyboard is more expensive than the white one in UK. Maybe this is simply coincidence.

http://homepage.mac.com/srobert/.Pictures/Other%20pics/keyboardsandmouses.gif

Note that displayed amounts are in canadian dollars.

[topicolo]

damn, I just want to lick those "add to order" buttons. They remind me of Jolly Ranchers :D

edit: fixed a spelling stupidity

[macsurfer]

Jolly *Ranchers*

[topicolo]

Damn, u caught that before I did.

[jettredmont]

(Regarding the right and bottom of some track pads acting as a scrolling area)

Originally posted by cyberfunk


I've used that feature on some compaqs, I think it's mostly software based, but I've found it sort of annoying and unreliable.

I've used it on Dell and HP laptops. It works well for the most part, but it doesn't hook into the OS like the scroll wheel does (there are scroll wheel up/down calls in XP and OS 10.1.5; the scrolling-area on a trackpad physically temporarily positoins the mouse on the topmost "up" or "down" button, sends a "click" event to the OS, then repositions the mouse). Because it isn't well integrated, it sometimes has unintended consequences.

I would suspect, were Apple to adopt this particular innovation (I don't think it was Logitech either, but rather a trackpad manufacturer that came out with it several years back) I'd hope they'd make it an OS-supported thing rather than a tacked-on kludge as is still the norm in the PC world (and, I might note, will continue to be the case until MS begins producing a trackpad).

Oh, and scroll wheels r00l! :cool:

[bird]

I still don't understand why scroll wheel "suck". I realize that "scroll wheels are killer!" isn't chock full of reasoning either, but at least it has an obvious corollary: that, with a scroll wheel, you can scroll a window. People seem to find that functionality useful. Maybe that functionality is done better by Griffin. Why? What specifics can anyone give as to why scroll wheels are so bad?

Is it the implementation of the scroll? Placement on the mouse/trackball itself? Something else?

And please understand that blanket statements with no evidence will not be very convincing. For instance, I use a trackball -- love 'em -- but obviously some prefer a mouse. Why? Probably boils down to reasons having to do with personal taste and preference. In other words, what I like may not be what you like. What's the point of going around and saying "People who use [insert input device here] are losers!"? It's juvenile.

But I'd really like to know some reasons why scroll wheels are so disliked by some.

Bird

[redAPPLE]

Originally posted by bird
I still don't understand why scroll wheel "suck". I realize that "scroll wheels are killer!" isn't chock full of reasoning either, but at least it has an obvious corollary: that, with a scroll wheel, you can scroll a window. People seem to find that functionality useful. Maybe that functionality is done better by Griffin. Why? What specifics can anyone give as to why scroll wheels are so bad?

Is it the implementation of the scroll? Placement on the mouse/trackball itself? Something else?

And please understand that blanket statements with no evidence will not be very convincing. For instance, I use a trackball -- love 'em -- but obviously some prefer a mouse. Why? Probably boils down to reasons having to do with personal taste and preference. In other words, what I like may not be what you like. What's the point of going around and saying "People who use [insert input device here] are losers!"? It's juvenile.

But I'd really like to know some reasons why scroll wheels are so disliked by some.

Bird

Because it reminds one of a peecee?

[macsurfer]

Originally posted by bird
It's juvenile.

Bird


Ahhhh what's wrong with being young (or young at heart)?

I hate em becuase they are a PC thing. I hate em becuase they are ugly. I hate em becuase my finger cramps up and get's tired of the repetitive short movement it has to make over and over again to use it. I just hate em and that's my personal taste and I will never use one unless Apple starts making them and I have no choice.

P.S. Who's trying to *convince* anyone of anything? Not me. I'm just saying how I feel!

[bird]

Because it reminds one of a peecee?

Well, that's at least a valid reason. Not so sure it's a really great reason, as you could say the same thing about function keys, or two-button mice/trackballs or the like. But it's still a reason.

I don't have a trackball with a scroll wheel, but my next one will have one. I like being able to scroll, nor would I ever go back to a one-button mouse. Control-clicking is more work than my laziness will allow. I don't necessarily like being reminded of the wintel world, but some things have just become part of the "mac experience" -- at least my mac experience.

Bird

[macsurfer]

Originally posted by bird
It's juvenile.

Bird


Ahhhh what's wrong with being young (or young at heart)?

I hate em becuase they are a PC thing. I hate em becuase they are ugly. I hate em becuase my finger cramps up and get's tired of the repetitive short movement it has to make over and over again to use it. I just hate em and that's my personal taste and I will never use one unless Apple starts making them and I have no choice.

P.S. Who's trying to *convince* anyone of anything? Not me. I'm just saying how I feel!

[bird]

Ahhhh what's wrong with being young (or young at heart)?

I hate em becuase they are a PC thing. I hate em becuase they are ugly. I hate em becuase my finger cramps up and get's tired of the repetitive short movement it has to make over and over again to use it. I just hate em and that's my personal taste and I will never use one unless Apple starts making them and I have no choice.

P.S. Who's trying to *convince* anyone of anything? Not me. I'm just saying how I feel!

There's nothing wrong with being young, but you'll notice I said "juvenile" and there is something wrong with behaving like a juvenile, unless one's on a playground or something.

The simple solution here is for Apple to make a mouse with a scroll wheel, so that it can finally become acceptable to you, since it will no longer be a "PC thing" and will, instead, be a "Mac thing". Of course, Apple will probably leave those kinds of innovations to third-party vendors, while concentrating on aesthetic design and things like optical technology. This is probably wise, imo.

You may not think that this forum (and others) aren't a form of discourse that, inherently, involves "convincing" someone of something, but you'd be incorrect. At the very least, you're trying to convince people -- the people who read your posts -- that your "feelings" or "opinions" or statements have some merit. And one does that by having some reasoning, some evidence, so that someone else can look at it, and say "hey, my hand cramps up when I use scroll wheels, too -- boy, they really do suck" or something. If someone just wanted to vent feelings, there are other, more appropriate, places to do so, and people to pay money to in exchange for the responsibility of listening.

Bird

[macsurfer]

Originally posted by bird


There's nothing wrong with being young, but you'll notice I said "juvenile" and there is something wrong with behaving like a juvenile, unless one's on a playground or something.

The simple solution here is for Apple to make a mouse with a scroll wheel, so that it can finally become acceptable to you, since it will no longer be a "PC thing" and will, instead, be a "Mac thing". Of course, Apple will probably leave those kinds of innovations to third-party vendors, while concentrating on aesthetic design and things like optical technology. This is probably wise, imo.

You may not think that this forum (and others) aren't a form of discourse that, inherently, involves "convincing" someone of something, but you'd be incorrect. At the very least, you're trying to convince people -- the people who read your posts -- that your "feelings" or "opinions" or statements have some merit. And one does that by having some reasoning, some evidence, so that someone else can look at it, and say "hey, my hand cramps up when I use scroll wheels, too -- boy, they really do suck" or something. If someone just wanted to vent feelings, there are other, more appropriate, places to do so, and people to pay money to in exchange for the responsibility of listening.

Bird

BIG Yawn. Do you know how much your time was just wasted on me?

P.S. the internet is one of the worlds BIGGEST playgrounds. Nyahhh Nyahhhh.

[macsurfer]

Originally posted by bird


Of course, Apple will probably leave those kinds of innovations to third-party vendors, while concentrating on aesthetic design and things like optical technology. This is probably wise, imo.



Bird

I really hope so. I value the aesthetics and the innovation in things like optical technology far more than a dipsh*tty little scroll wheel. Of course, if anyone could improve on the idea of the scroll wheel and make it worthwhile, Apple could.

[bird]

BIG Yawn. Do you know how much your time was just wasted on me?

P.S. the internet is one of the worlds BIGGEST playgrounds. Nyahhh Nyahhhh.

If I thought you were the only audience for my posts I would have used smaller words and less complex ideas.

Plus, what can one say to "Nyah Nyah"? I believe it trumps rock, paper, *and* scissors, not to mention "I'm paper, you're glue...", or even "I know you are but what am I?" The rhetorical equivalent of the ultimate weapon -- cooties.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane, kid.

Bird